Design and Technology

Design and Technology is an inspiring, rigorous and practical subject. Using creativity and imagination, pupils design and make products that solve real and relevant problems within a variety of contexts considering their own and others’ needs, wants and values.

Students acquire a broad range of subject knowledge and draw on other subjects such as Mathematics, science, ICT and Art. They learn to become resourceful, innovative and capable citizens.

High quality Design and Technology education makes an essential contribution to the creativity, culture, wealth and wellbeing of the nation and through evaluation of products students develop a critical understanding of their impact on daily life and the wider world.

Staffing

Mr N Brookes (Joint HOD, Product Design)

Ms U Beveridge (Joint HOD, Food Technology, Maths, ICT)

Mr N Creak (Product Design, Games)

Mr A Dawson (PE, Product Design)

Ms K Moody (Department Technician)

Mrs P Parks (Food Technician, Sailing)

Facilities

The department has 4 specialist rooms

2 rooms fully equipped to teach Product Design

a state-of-the-art Food Technology kitchen

A CAD CAM suite including a laser cutter and three 3D printers to enable boys to design and make industrial quality products.

Key Stage 3

In Years 7-9 Design and Technology is taught in small, mixed form classes of 18–23 students.

Year 7 includes 14 weeks of Food and 21 weeks exploring many aspects of Product Design

Year 8 includes 14 weeks each of Food and Product Design and 7 weeks of Graphics.

An example rotation is as follows:

Rotation 1

7 weeks

Rotation 2

7 weeks

Rotation 3

7 weeks

Rotation 4

7 weeks

Rotation 5

7 weeks

Year 7

You are what you eat

A variety of different activities which encourage students to understand why a Healthy Diet is important.

Cooking

Practising a range of essential and transferable food skills to make

Salads, soup, rice, pasta, flapjacks and rock cakes.

Spinner

Woodwork and metalwork hand tools and processes are used to produce a fun working toy.

Maze

Students use CAD CAM to design and build a tilt maze, and vacuum form high quality casings.

LED Lamp

A colour change LED lamp that explores basic circuit construction and is housed in a free form acrylic animal.

Year 8

The World of Food

A series of student focused activities, challenging students to consider where our foods come from and why we eat what we eat.

Further Cooking

More advanced skills to enable students to make a wide range of multi-cultural dishes including spaghetti Bolognese, risotto, stir fry, macaroni cheese, curry and pizza.

Speakers

The speakers utilise more advanced circuitry, CAD CAM components, lamination and standard fixings. The project also covers essential coursework skills such as production planning and testing.

Speaker Packaging

Graphic Design using Photoshop to create product packaging.

Nets, layouts, advertising and typography are investigated

More details of the KS3 courses including resources and recipes can be found on the School's VLE/Moodle

Key Stage 4 (Years 9, 10 and 11)

There are two GCSE Design and Technology subjects currently on offer. Both GCSE options involve a design portfolio and practical outcome which accounts for 60% of their total GCSE. All are rigorous courses which help to develop relevant life skills including problem solving, creativity and resourcefulness.

AQA GCSE Design and Technology Food Technology (Year 11)

This GCSE specification covers a range of food related skills and knowledge including Cooking and Presentation of Food, Sensory Evaluation, Nutrition, Food Science, New Product Development and recent Environmental Issues. Details of the specification can be found here

AQA GCSE Product Design

This course encourages a practical approach to problem solving and allows students to design and make products with creativity and originality. They will experience a variety of practical disciplines and use a range of materials and techniques. It aims to equip pupils to design and produce products with broad consumer appeal and real market feasibility. Details of the specification can be found here

AQA GCSE Food preparation and Nutrition (Year 9)

This course replaces Food Technology from 2016 and will equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It is 50% theory, 50% practical and is welcomed by chefs, food scientist and health professionals throughout Britain. Details of the specification can be found here

Key Stage 5

Edexel Product Design As and A2

The Edexel Product Design with Graphics and Product Design with Resistant Materials courses are run concurrently at KS5. Students from both Watford Boys and Watford Girls explore disassembly, blue sky design and skills based making projects at AS.

In A2 students work with an external client to develop a solution to a real world problem, chosen with a focus on university courses. Details of the specification can be found here

The department has an enviable record of past students now leading their field in Architecture, Interior design, Furniture Making, Engineering and Transport Design.

Extra-Curricular Activities

These change throughout the year according to needs and requests from students but we currently run

a lunch time KS3 Product Design Club

after school Year 8 Baking Club on Tuesdays

Visits

Sixth form students regularly visit New Designers at the BDC in Islington.